photo courtesy of Nation Media Group
Ministry of Health officials on Thursday confirmed the second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine will not arrive this month as expected earlier as they are yet to receive assurance in writing from the Covax facility. Which had in April written to inform Kenya that there would likely be a delay in the consignment.
A development that is likely to fuel anxiety among those who had received their first dose of the Covid-19vaccine. This anxiety is likely to be heightened by the Health ministry’s prediction that the country could record a peak of Covid-19 infection in the next two months.
The country is now trying other avenues to obtain a second batch of the vaccine even as the government explores other options including, acquiring different doses of vaccines such as Johnson and Johnson’s and Pfizer vaccines.
An Oxford study revealed that clinics could swap Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines if supplies are interrupted with no adverse effects or safety concerns. Chills, headaches and muscle pain were reportedly the most frequent side effects when different vaccine doses were combined.
Several other countries have reported plans to mix vaccine amid uncertainty over the shipment of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.
